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Why the Internet is Making TV More Watchable

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According to a recent Nielsen Co. study, Americans are watching a lot of TV—158 hours a month to be precise. That sounds like a hefty amount of prime time, but those hours indicate a mere 0.2 percent increase from last year; the real percentage spikes come when you bring the internet into the equation.

The Little Device that Could… Do Everything

It hasn’t taken long for Smartphones to become the mobile phone standard, and it isn’t rare to see someone armed with an iPad anymore; you can do pretty much anything you’d want to on your phone or tablet. Being able to catch up on episodes of True Blood sans actual television is one example of why TV viewing via internet has jumped 34 percent since last year, and TV-watching via mobile device has jumped 20 percent since last year.

You Had Me at “Watch Online”

Behind those numbers lurks one of the strongest motivators of human action: convenience. Companies who provide streamed entertainment recognized that more and more people will want to be able to watch TV on the go, so they’ve scrambled to beef up online offerings. It’s now easy to find current TV shows online, and when you combine options with mobility, it’s an entertainment match made in… Apple.

It’s a Bird, It’s a Plane, It’s… Something You Should Try

Accessing TV via the Internet doesn’t mean you have to relinquish your 52-inch beauty, it means you have greater entertainment freedom, like sneaking World Cup scores on your phone during family Disney night. The shows, the news, the sports are there; will you enjoy it via laptop, Smartphone, or iPad?

Filed Under: Internet, Wireless Tagged With: Apple, Smartphone, Television

Finding WiFi Connections While Traveling

A panoramic view of Prince George Wharf, the f...

Image via Wikipedia

Many travelers fear that they will be completely cut off from the world while on vacation. Those fears should be a thing of the past. Many travel destinations have realized that travelers want to be connected and they are offering WiFi as a way to compete for tourists.

Before you book your hotel or resort, ask if the place that you are staying at offers WiFi. Many resorts and hotels are starting to offer free WiFi in every room. Other resorts and hotels have a coffee shop or restaurant on site that offers free WiFi for guests.

If you have found out to late that the hotel or resort that you have booked does not offer free WiFi you will not have to change your vacation plans. Even if the hotel or resort that you are staying in does not offer free WiFi chances are there is a coffee shop or restaurant in the vicinity that does. Take a stroll around your hotel. You will most likely find a site for free WiFi fairly quickly.

If you are traveling by way of cruise ship finding a WiFi connection will be more difficult but it can be done. Almost all cruise ships offer a coffee shop on board where you can get connected. However, you will have to pay for the connection which can be incredibly expensive. Before you board, do your homework. See if the cruise line offers a plan that will allow you to use the WiFi for one flat fee for the duration of the cruise. Another option would be to wait until you dock search for WiFi spots in port.

Filed Under: Connections, Internet, Wireless Tagged With: Cruise line, Global Positioning System, Wi-Fi

Wireless Internet Revolutionizes Travel

Wireless Internet Accesspoint in Tartu, Estonia

Image via Wikipedia

In the days before wireless internet and the proliferation of wi-fi hotspots, travel used to require a certain cut-off from society. In the new era of wi-fi, it is easy to stay connected even while traveling in the most remote places.

Wireless internet can be found at cafes, restaurants and hostels, keeping travelers connected. For anyone who may have been afraid of the isolation of travel, they can now enjoy skype conversations or e-mails with their parents and friends from farflung locations.

Additionally, the wide availability of wireless internet has revolutionized the travel writing industry. The days of using out-of-date guide books to find restaurants, hostels or local attractions is over. Using portable internet devices such as laptops, iPhones, iPads or iPods travelers can link in to up-to-date articles by travel writers in residence or those just passing through. Travel writing sites like Matador are taking advantage of the internet to provide interesting travel advice, articles and photos from correspondents all over the world.

Another use of wireless internet for travel is to get quick information regarding directions, currency conversions and language tips. Applications are available for smartphones and iPods to take full advantage of these new technologies. Haggling in foreign markets is much easier when you have a few language tips and quick currency conversion at your fingertips to avoid paying too much or making a mistake. Search for these applications using your device before embarking on your trip to make the transitions much easier.

For these reasons and more wireless internet and the wide availability of wi-fi hotspots is revolutionizing travel by using technology to make travel easier and more accessible.

Filed Under: Internet, Wireless Tagged With: IPhone, Travel, Wi-Fi

The Web Offers a Fun Environment for Learning and Games

The Internet has opened up a world of possibilities when it comes to free activities to ease boredom. For instance, both children and adults have the ability to hop online at any time of the day, especially if they have wireless Internet connections and laptops.

Aside from doing research on your favorite topics, you can also connect with friends through the many social networking sites. This makes it easy to stay in touch, even when life gets busy. One of the best parts about the Internet is that it gives children the tools to learn more effectively away from peer pressure. There are all kinds of brainteasers, learning games and educational websites out there.

In addition to the fun activities that the net provides for children, it has also made it possible for schools to reach out to more kids than previously possible through online high schools and colleges. Even adults can enjoy free entertainment. Adults have the best of both worlds when it comes to the Internet. Aside from researching and reading books, there are endless amounts of free and paid games to play online. For instance, adults can enjoy the easy access of online gaming sites, like Bet US Online Casino.

There are all kinds of games to play online, and it the Internet can provide a fun way to earn some extra cash for adults. The best part about online games is that they are easily accessible through any place that offers free Wi-Fi, which makes it possible to play a quick game during a break. With the Internet, your entertainment options are endless.

Filed Under: Internet Tagged With: Child, Online game, Video game

Keeping Your Games Fun and Safe

Gaming is a very enjoyable pastime for the most part. But unfortunately, as gaming computers have become more advanced and allowed everyone to do things which would have seemed ridiculous not so long ago, the door has also been thrown open for the worst kinds of people to walk right in. As sad as it is, a lot of people take your games very seriously but not in the sense of providing you with a wonderful gaming experience. For some people, this is all about using your computer for their own nefarious purposes, such as to launch attacks on their behalves or to steal your files and even your identity.

Your gaming desktop is your temple, and a lot of people want to get all Lara Croft (minus the hotness) on your temple. However, you have the capacity to protect yourself in several ways. For one thing, never open an email sent from someone you don’t know if it has any kind of attachment on it. For another thing, you might want to weigh the costs and benefits of using antivirus and firewall programs. Antivirus programs may take up some hard drive space and occasionally slow the computer, but this can be worth it in the long run. And while firewalls can sometimes prevent you from logging onto your favorite games, this might be worth it to keep the ability to play the rest of your games.

Symantec’s Norton Internet Security is a trustworthy name for antivirus software (at least to start your short list), and Eset Smart Security and ZoneAlarm are great programs on the firewall front for keeping secure and protect from hackers.

Filed Under: Connections Tagged With: ZoneAlarm

What’s the Closest Route to the Best Router on the Market?

You’ve come to the right place, friend. The research is in, and if you’re looking for an internet router above the rest, read on. Yes, it seems odd that one would be so inclined as to consider options when shopping for a router; but believe it or not, getting the appropriate router for your web network is essential to clean and easy surfing from computer to computer. You’d be surprised at how important it is–especially when your son or daughter whine and cry about how slow their connections are!

So here’s the list compiled by research on some of the best routers to date. Pay close attention:

Cisco Valet Plus

Clean and easy and pretty close to the mobile network competitors as far as quality. At only $80 to $150 for a router, if you’re interested in robust browsing within a network of computers, the money would be worth it.

DIR-615 Wireless N Router

With a price ranging from $35 to $90, the router is affordable and a good entry-level hit for the network’s needs.

Netgear WNDR3700 RangeMax Dual Band Wireless-N Gigabit Router (Premium Edition)

It’s a pretty fancy name. And rightly so. It’s a great dual-band router, which is advanced and designed for multi-com networks. Not to mention it brings storage to the table, which for many network enthusiasts is like candy on Halloween. Insanely expensive, though.

Verizon Wireless MiFi 2200 Intelligent Mobile Hotspot

The only downside is the service plan of one of the greatest mobile networks known to man. But you can’t beat the quality of the Verizon Wireless Network.

Novatel Wireless MiFi 2200 (Sprint)

Likewise, getting past the service plan is a must if you’ll benefit from any mobile service routers; and Sprint is no slouch on that. Primetime efficiency and speed from another high-quality mobile internet service.

Filed Under: Internet

Common Places to Find a WiFi Hotspot

Wi-fi hotspots are popping up all over the country. It’s common to find hotspots in a coffee shop or at a library, but at a grocery store? Yes, you can shop at Safeway and browse your email all at the same time. Hotels, libraries, and restaurants are some of the best places to find hotspots.

Hotels

This is a favorite upgrade that hotels love to offer their visitors. Not every location offers internet access for free, and depending on the hotel you could be charged up to $9.99 for 24 hours. The hotels that do offer free wi-fi will usually give you a code when you check in. If they don’t, you can call the front desk and ask for it.

Restaurants and Coffee Shops

Fast food restaurants and coffee shops are the most popular places to find wi-fi. They’ll usually offer it to their customers for free, handing over the password when you order your food and drinks. Some restaurants won’t even require a password.

Chains that offer free wi-fi include:

McDonalds
Starbucks
Del Taco
Jack in the Box
Barnes and Noble Bookstores (They usually have a coffee shop located inside.)

Libraries

One of the best resources you can find a library is free internet. This is also an excellent place to find a wi-fi hotspot. Many students and professionals alike will visit libraries to relax or to do research, and having available wi-fi is simply good business sense. You can get the password at any of the desks, and there usually isn’t a fee.

With more and more people carrying around internet-ready devices, many businesses are viewing hotspots as a valuable commodity. They simply don’t want to run the risk losing business to a competitor that offers wi-fi if they don’t. And with the availability of hotspot locator apps for smart phones, having hotspots set up in a small business is becoming more and more commonplace.

Filed Under: Wireless

The New Face for Wireless Hot Spots

Wireless hot spots have become the norm for technology savvy consumers who take their computer with them in the palms of their hands. The new Android technology that is available on cell phones has turned phones into mini computers, and laptops have become even more portable with the advent of net books and lighter-weight designs. Many businesses have now installed wireless hot spots to draw customers back into the stores instead of doing all their shopping at home. Restaurants and hotels have done this for quite a while, trying to draw in traveling professionals to their establishments.

A new problem has arisen, though, for major booksellers who have established their business on people coming into the store to enjoy the ambiance, read, and shop. The increasing popularity of e-readers has taken people out of the bookstores to a greater deal and given them access to a portable library. Barnes & Noble Booksellers has answered this problem by teaming up with AT&T to create a Wi-Fi hot spot within the store.

Customers can still download books wherever they are, as long as they have access to the AT&T network, but when they are in the store, they have access to over one million free books that they can download on the e-Nook. This has been a sure way to draw customers back into the store and to keep sales on track.

There are several free e-books available outside of the store to be downloaded, but the primary crux is available in the store. Readers are now coming back in to enjoy a cup of coffee and a good read. As more and more print items are digitized and consumers can have greater freedom to shop wherever they are, retailers will have to be more creative to draw people back into the stores. The Wi-Fi hot spot looks to be one of the best ways to start to adapt to a more digital age.

Filed Under: Wireless

Protect Yourself While Using Public Wi-Fi

Many people use public wireless networks in restaurants, cafes and libraries. Wireless networks give them the opportunity to browse the Internet or get work done without confining them to their offices. When using a public network, however, you have to make sure that you protect yourself from other users that know how to monitor your activities to gain personal information about your bank, email and credit card accounts.

Protect Your Computer with a Firewall

Whenever using a public Wi-Fi connection, you should use a firewall that prevents other people from eavesdropping or gaining access to your computer. Firewalls are not completely foolproof, but they do offer considerable protection. Many operating systems now include firewalls. Enable them and you can surf the Internet in privacy.

Encrypt Your Files

If you keep sensitive information (bank account info, credit card numbers and the like) on your computer, then you should consider using an operating system that allows you to encrypt those files. Encryption makes it difficult for other people to read the information in those files. Since you cannot rely on the Wi-Fi administrator to enable encryption, you should use an operating system that allows you to control encryption on your end.

Don’t Type Sensitive Information

Prevention is the best protection. If you avoid typing sensitive information while on a public network, then no one will be able to grab your passwords and account numbers. This might seem like an inconvenience for those working out of the office, but it offers a level of protection that you cannot get from software.

Stay Offline Unless Necessary

Finally, don’t connect to the wireless network unless you are actively using it. This reduces the amount of time that hackers can use to gain access to your system. If you don’t plan to use the Internet for a period longer than ten minutes, then just disconnect from the network.

Filed Under: Connections